A host of famous faces will be joining Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch in the second run of Shakespeare adaptations The Hollow Crown.

We already knew that Cumberbatch was poised to play Richard III in The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses, a three-parter which will consist of Henry VI parts 1 and 2 and Richard III, but the BBC has now confirmed that he'll be acting alongside stars such as Judi Dench, Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville and Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins.

Henry VI parts 1 and 2 will see Hugh Bonneville play Humphrey, the Duke of Gloucester and Sally Hawkins take on the role of his wife Eleanor, while Tom Sturridge will play an unknown role.

"To have the chance to work with some of Britain’s most talented actors is a dream come true. We couldn't be more delighted to have them on board," said executive producer Pippa Harris.

BBC drama commissioning controller Ben Stephenson added: "Building on the critical success of The Hollow Crown, this extraordinary cast and production team will raise the bar of British drama once more and build on BBC Two’s reputation for distinctive drama."

The first Hollow Crown series, which aired in 2012, told the stories of Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V. The Bafta award-winning series starred Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston.

The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses will be also be executive produced by Bond director Sam Mendes.

We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. Cookies perform functions like recognising you each time you visit and delivering advertising messages that are relevant to you. Read more here